SPIREITES: Paul Cook warns Preston that Chesterfield are still alive in the tie

Barnsley vs Chesterfield - Paul Cook - Pic By James Williamson

Published:22:52Thursday 07 May 2015

Chesterfield boss Paul Cook maintained his side still hold the belief they can reach Wembley despite a first leg loss in the play-off semi-final to Preston.

The Spireites did everything but score on Tuesday night at a rocking Proact Stadium that saw the visitors leave with a slender one goal advantage, scored by Jermaine Beckford.

Cook said: “We’re looking forward to Sunday, Preston know we’re still alive. At 1-0 the next goal in the tie is huge and we believe we can get it.

“If we don’t we’ll keep doing our best. Tonight was a great night for our players because going up against these teams you can get found out if you’re not good enough. That certainly never happened to us tonight.

“When you see how we had them on the back foot and how we were trying to move the ball about, some of their defending was good. You don’t get the goals they get, the unbeaten runs, by being lucky.

“We knew it was always going to be a difficult tie, if we drew tonight I thought it would have been a good result. The next goal is everything and we believe in what we’re doing. I do, the players do and the supporters do.”

Chesterfield will assess the fitness of goalkeeper Tommy Lee ahead of Sunday’s match at Deepdale after he fell awkwardly on his left ankle making a save and required treatment.

While, in the other semi-final first leg, Sheffield United let a lead slip through their fingers to Swindon Town at Bramall Lane, losing 2-1 after Nathan Byrne’s 94th minute goal.